macgregor



July 6,1926. 4 R 16,378

- w. F. M GREsoR COMBINATION nmvas'rsn 'rumsnza Original Filed June 19 p1922 e Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Ju y 6 1926. Re. 16,378

W. F. MQCGREGQR COMBINATION HARVESTER 'rmusnnn Original Filed e 19. 1922'6 Sheets-Sheet) 2 NMWN ATTORNEY July 6 1926. Re, 16,378

w. F. M GREGOR COMBINATION HARVESTER THRASHER- Original F l June 19. 2'a Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEY July 6 1926. Re. ,3 3

- w. F. M GREGOR COMBINATION HARVESTER THRASHBR Original Fil Jun 19.1922 a Sheets-Sheet 4 Q HI,- T

ATTORNEY v. M J

W; F. M GREGOR COMBINATION HARVESTER THRASHER Original File June .1922

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Reiaaued July 6, 1926 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

WALLACE I. KAOGBEGOB, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ABBIGNOR TO 1. 1. CASETHBEBHING CHINE COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION.

COMBINATION HABVESTER THRASHEB.

Original application filed June 19, 1922, Serial No. 588,298. RenewedAugust 22, 1925. Qrlglnal Io. 1,568,678, dated January 5, 1828.Application for reissue filed February 23, 1828. Serlal No. 90,814.

My invention relates to improvements in combination harvester thrashers.The invention is of particular value in connection with machines whereinthe weight of the harvester or header is counterbalanced so as tofacilitate the vertical adjustment of the same to vary the height ofcut. The invention is also of special service in that type of machine inwhich the harvester unit is arranged to fold alongside the thrasher unitto provide a combined machine of small compass which may be handled,transported, or stored as a whole without the necessity of separatingthe harvester from the t-hrasher.

In its preferred embodiment, a specific object of the invention is toprovide an improved construction and arrangement for effecting suchcounterbalancing in a machine of the folding type. For example, in thereferred embodiment herein disclosed,

' I e ect such counterbalancing by utilizing the weight of the thrasherwithout the necessity of employing springs or special counterbalancingweightsfi It is obviousnevertheless that certain features of theinvention are susceptible of wider application and of use in structuresin which the counterbalancing of the harvester is effected otherwisethan by the weight of the thrasher, as will be readily understood byreference to the following description and the claims appended thereto.7

In the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, Fig. 1 is a plan of acombination harvester-thrasher embodyin' provements, portions of thethras er being omitted; Fig. 2, a front elevation; Fig. 3, a transversesectional view taken on the dotted lines 3-3 in Figs. 1 and 4; Fig. 4, aside elevation of the machinery as seen when looking in the direction ofthe arrows 44 in Fi 1; Fig. 5, a side elevation indicating in ottedlines positions in which the harvester and thrasher ma be adjusted, asseen when looking in the direction indicated by the arrows 55 in-Fig. 1;Fig. 6, a' detail elevation of mechanism which I may employ for adjustinthe harvester and thrasher; Fig. 7 a etail showing a lever and itsconnections with the thrashor and my im-.

the manner indicated. In the drawings the harvester, 5 is secured to thethrasher', 6, in the relative position as shown in Fi 1, said harvesterbeing of any preferred orm embodying the usual platform, 7 carrier, 8,

8', reel, 9, and other accessories and detail mechanisms for connectingand operating such parts, the end of the harvester adjacent the thrasherbeing connected thereto and driven by flexible means, such for exampleas the link 10 and associated parts, for driving the harvesting machinefrom the t-hrasher. The grain-wheel, 11, of the harvester and thecarrying wheels, 12, 13, of the thrasher are mounted upon a common axle,15, which I have shown as comprising iping which may be continuous orcoup e at various points in its length as desired, but which as a wholeis adapted to rotate or rock from end to end in said wheels in themanner and for the purpose to be described. The harvester 5 is fixedlysupported upon the axle 15 by means of supporting members, 17, which aresecured, at 18, to brackets, 19, the latter in turn being fixedlysecured to said axle 15, the forward ends of said members 17 beingpreferably upwardly inclined and ivotally connected, at 20, to thelatform Also upon said axle 15 I fixed y secure standards, 21, or othersuitable supporting devices upon which I mount links or supportingmembers, 23, which are connected at their forward ends, at 24, to theharvester 5, said su porting members being preferably adjusta lyattachable to the devices upon which they are mounted, as indicated bythe bolt holes, 25, 26, therein a' pearing in Fig. 5. The supporting memrs 17 and 23 are in substantially parallel relation and cooperate insustaimng and guiding the harvester 5 in its various movements as willhereinafterappear, and I may further brace said harvester to the axle 15as may be desired. Said axle 15 and, the parallel members 17 and 23 inefi'ect constitute the supporting frame for the harvester 5, but inorder to insure the proper positioning of wheel 11 relatively to thethrasher 6 I connect said frame to the thrasher 6 by a detachablymounted brace-rod, 30, preferably pivotally connected to the thrasher,at 31, and to the axle 15 by a bracket, 32, ivotally mounted thereon,said brace-rod 30 and axle 15 being connected by a supporting link, 33,secured to said brace-rod and a standard 21 on the axle, whichsupporting link maintains standard 21 in upri ht position and with oneof the links 23 ig. 1) cooperates as a continuous stren thening orthrust-rod during movements 0 the harvester, 5. It will be noted in Fig.1 that the axle 15 is sectional, that is to say, it embodies a flexiblejoint, 35, preferably adjacent the thrasher, which device in connectionwith the telescoping link 10 and the pivotally connected bracerod (at31) permit the harvester or header, 5 through its grain-wheel 11 tooscillate, i. e. to follow undulatory or irregular ground conditionsindependently of the thrasher, and also as said shaft 15 in such res ectis flexible and as the brace-rod 30 an supporting link 33 aredetachable, it will be understood that by removing these elements theharvester or header 5 may be swung around or folded in parallel relationto the thrasher 6, in which position the harvester and thrasher elementsare assembled in comparatively compact condition for storage or otherpurposes.

The thrasher wheels 12, 13, are mounted upon the axle section, 15, andupon which the thrasher 6 is supported, said thrasher, as will beunderstood, being equipped with a motor, 40, at its forward end foractuating the thrasher and separating mechanisms, thereof, as well asthe harvester, the combined thrasher-harvester being drawn by animal ortractor power as desired, while the forward end of the thrasher frame issuprted upon a steering-wheel, 41. as desired. i aid thrasher 6 isconnected to the axle portion, 15', by one or more levers, 45, of any apropriate construction, that indicated in igs. 5 and 7 comprising strapssurrounding said axle portion 15 and rigidly secured thereto by bolts orpins, 46, or otherwise, its end bein pivotal mounted, at 47, in abracket or anger, 4 which is fixedly secured to the lower side of thethrasher, and as many of said devices as are considered requisite may beinstalled, in the present instance, two being suflicient, that is, oneat each side of the thrasher, but I desire to be understood that otherforms of levers or equivalent devices may be employed, the

form of such devices illustrated for the pur pose having beendemonstrated in a practical machine of the character disclosed.

Machinery .of the character under consideration it is recognized is ofvery weighty and cumbersome porport-ions requiring considerable animalor mechanical power to propel and a complement of attendants forperforming the necessary operations of the machinery and handling thefield material, and simplicity of operation not only is advantageous butwhen considering the importance of saving grain in regions in which suchmachinery is a plicable the problem of alleviating manual a'bor mustalso be seriously considered, and my object is to reduce the difficultyof such operation and labor and consequently the cost of harvesting acrop, as the instrumentalties which I employ for adjusting the harvesterand thrasher are readily responsive to slight effort of manipulation byan operator.

To facilitate the manipulation of the harvester and thrasher I assemblewith the latter, adjacent to the harvester, a platform, as 50, for theaccommodation of an attendant, and associated with such platform ismechanism under control of the attendant for verticall moving both theharvester and thrasher. uch mechanism may consist of any appropriatedevices for the purpose, but for illustration I have shown a rack-bar,51 positioned upon said platform, having a downwardly extending rod, 52,connected to the harvester 5, as at 5', the rack-bar engaging a pinion,53, which latter may be connected to a tiller-wheel, 54, or otherinstrumentality for raising and lowering said rack-bar and consequentlyharvester 5.

In operation of a combined harvesterthrasher of the character which isthe subject hereof, it will be understood that the cutting and conveyingmechanisms of the harvester are usually actuated by mechanisms connectedto the thrasher, the thrashing and separating elements of the latterbeing operated from a source of power such as its motor, but suchdetails of construction and operations being no part of my presentinvention will not be specifically described herein, as it is obviousthat any suitable system of mechanisms maybe employed for producing thenecessary co-action between the harvester and thrasher for gathering andthrashing the grain, as hereinbefore indicated. However, in employing myinvention to accomplish the results referred to certain simplicity ofmanipulation and advantageous results are attained consequent upon thearrangement and operation of my improved mechanisms for the purpose.which I will now proceed to describe. The machine as a whole-thecombined thrasher and harvester or header-is drawn through the field ofgrain by mechanical or animal ill) power and the selected motor power isset 1n operation to actuate the separating mechanisms embodied in thethrasher, the sickle or cutter-bars, 7 of the harvester being insimultaneous operation with the thrasher through the connection of themechanisms comprising part of both elements. As standing grain isencountered requiring cutting close to the ground by the harvester thelatter is lowered or depressed by the attendant upon manipulation of therack-bar 51 or other device for the purpose so that the cutter-bar 7associated with platform 7 of the harvester are in approximately theposition indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, which position of saidplatform and cutter bars is maintained by the parallel supportingmembers 17, 23. However, such dotted lines indicate the lowermostposition of the harvester platform but it will be understood that whenthe grain crop has been so developed as to requireits cutting or headingat a considerable distance above the ground, for example, at the heightindicated by the platform 7 in full lines in Fig. 4, the harvester maybe vertically adjusted according to the height of the standing. rain,and which work and position may e readily determined and controlled bythe attendant upon platform 50, and it will be understood also thatduring such adjustments of the harvester its platform 7 is sustained inpractically horizontal position by the supporting members 17, 23, sothat the headed grain received thereon will be retained and tobeconveyed to the supplemental carrier 8' and thence into the thrasher6. \Vhen such attendant is lowering said harvester, say to the positionindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5, the rigid connections of thesupporting members 17 with axle 15 cause said axle to turn in aclockwise direction,

which turning movement throws the ends.

of the levers 45 upwardly, and as such levera are ri 'dly fixed tosaidaxle and are connected y the brackets 48 to the thrasher 6 there'sult isthat said thrasher body 6 is simultaneously raised as the harvester 5 islowered, and, vice-versa, as the harvester is being raised, saidthrasher at the same time is being lowered, the position of suchlowering and raising of these elements being indicated by the dottedlines in Fig. 5. 'In this manner the increased weight of the thrasherthrough the simple manipulation of the levers 45 acts as acounterbalancing weight against the movement of the harester in eitherdirection, in other words, the wei hts of the two elements arecounterbalance in their opposite movements by the torsional action ofaxle 15, which causes levers 45 to raise and lower said thrasher at themoment when the attendant is vertically adjusting the harvester orheader 5, during which latter manipulation the supporting members 17 areactuating to rock or impart torsional action to axle '15 to cause thethrasher to move vertically in a direction opposite to that of theharvester, so that said thrasher and harvester elements are beingcounterbalanced by the weight of the thrasher, which simple action willrelieve the attendant from the otherwise arduous manual labor ofendeavoring to raiseand lower said harvester to meet the varied heightsof grain encountered during its travel.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a combined harvester-thrasher, a supporting wheel for saidthrasher, a grain wheel for said harvester, a continuous axle mounted insaid wheels, and means connecting said harvester and axle by which thelatter may be rocked upon the vertical movement of said harvester.

2. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher, a harvester flexiblyconnected thereto, an axle connecting said elements, means connectingsaid harvester and axle, and means connecting said thrasher andharvester for vertically moving the latter to cause its connecting meanswith said axle to rock the same during such movement and tosimultaneously move said harvester and thrasher in 0p osite directions.

3. In a mac ine of the class described, a harvester, a thrasher, meansfor connecting said elements, wheels for supporting said elements, anaxle mounted in said wheels, means for vertically moving said harvester,and means for simultaneouslymoving said thrasher in opposite directionsto said harvester so that the weight of said thrasher willcounterbalance the movements of said harvester.

4. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher, a harvester, an axleconnected tosaid elements, means connecting said harvester and axle fortorsionally rocking the latter when said harvester is actuatedvertically, and means connecting said thrasher and axle to move saidthrasher in opposite directions to said harvester upon the actuation ofsaid axle.

5. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher, a harvester, meansfor flexibly connecting the same, an axle connecting said elements,substantially parallel members for supporting said harvester upon saidaxle, and means connecting said thrasher and harvester for verticallymoving the latter whereby said supporting members rock said axle andactuate said thrasher connecting means to move said thrasher in avertical direction simultaneously and oppositely to the movements ofsaid harvester.

6. In a machine of the class described, a threasher, a harvester, aflexibly jointed axle connecting said elements to permit said harvesterto follow ground irregularities,

and means rigidly connected to said axle and pivotally connected to saidharvester for permitting vertical movement of the latter and rockmgmovement of said axle when said harvester is vertically actuated.

7. In a machine of the class described, a harvester, a thrasher,supportingwheels for said elements. a continuous axle connecting saidwheels, means connecting said harvester and axle to rock the latter, andmeans for connecting said thrasher and axle for vertically moving saidthrasher when said axle is rocked upon the actuationof said harvester ina vertical direction.

8. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher, an axletherebeneath, means for pivotally connecting said thrasher and axle topermit vertical movement of the thrasher, a harvester connected to saidthrasher, and means connected to said harvester and axle for impartingtorsional motion to the latter upon the vertical actuation of saidharvester to raise and lower said thrasher in opposite directions to themovements of said harvester.

9. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher, a vertically movableharvester, a rocking axle connecting said elements. and means connectingsaid thrasher and axle for permitting vertical movement of said thrasheru on the rocking motion of said axle where y the weight of said thrashercounterbalances the weight of said harvester.

10. In a machine of the class described, a vertically movable harvester,a vertically movable thrasher body connected thereto, an

axle for supporting said elements, and means for raising and loweringsaid harvester to rock said axle which in turn lowers and raises saidthrasher body to counterbalance the weight of said harvester.

11. In a machine of the class described. a harvester,'a thrasherconnected thereto, rocking means connecting said elements. and means forvertically adjusting said harvester and actuating said rocking means tovertically adjust said thrasher.

12. In a machine of the class described, a harvester, a thrasher. anaxle connecting said elements, a member connected to said axle andpivotally connected to said thrasher, and means for actuating saidharvester to rock said axle and raise and lower said thrasher.

13. In a machine of the class described. a thrasher, a harvester, acommon axle connecting said thrasher and harvester, pivotal meansconnecting said thrasher and axle and permitting vertical movement ofthe thrasher in relation to said axle, and means for rocking said axle.

14. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher element, an axle, alever fixedly secured to said axle and pivotally connected to saidthrasher, a supporting member fixedly secured to said axle, a harvesterconnected to the opposite end of said member, and

mechanism for vertically adjusting said anism for permitting manualoperation thereof.

16. In a machine of the class described, a vertically movable thrasher,a vertically movable harvester,'a rocking axle connecting said elementsto permit the vertical movement thereof, means for rocking said axle,and means for vertically adjusting said harvester whereby said thrasheris also vertically adjusted.

17. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher having a carryingwheel, a harvester having a grain wheel, an axle embodying a universaljoint connecting said wheels, and means for torsionally moving said axleto raise and lower said thrasher.

18. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher having a carr inwheel, a barvester having a grain w ee an axle connecting said wheels,means connecting said harvester and axle for torsionally moving thelatter upon the vertical movement of said harvester, and meansconnecting said axle and thrasher for adjusting the latter upon suchtorsional movement.

19. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher, a harvester, meansfor drivingly connecting said elements, a rocking axle supporting saidharvester in offset relation and foldingly connected to the thrasher,and means for rocking said axle to adjust the height of cut.

20. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher, a harvesterarranged in lateral relation thereto, flexible means for drivinglyconnecting said elements, an axle sup porting said harvester in ofi'setrelation and means connecting said axle and thrasher for permitting saidaxle to oscillate vertically, to swing rearwardly for folding. and torotate on its axis to adjust the height of cut.

21. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher, an axle sectiontherefor, a harvester, an axle section for said harvester, means forhingedly connecting said axle sections for folding, and means forrocking said axle sections and incidentally raising or lowering saidharvester.

22. In a machine of the class described,

a thrasher, a rocking axle for supporting said thrasher, and meansconnecting sa1 thrasher and axle to permit substantially verticalmovement of said thrasher when said axle is rocked.

23. In a combined harvester-thrasher, a supporting wheel for saidthrasher, a grain wheel for said harvester, a continuous axle mounted insaid wheels, means connecting said thrasher and axle, means connectingsaid harvester and axle, and means for ad- 'usting said axle andharvester to verticaly adjust said thrasher.

'24. In a machine of the class described, aharvester, a thrasher,supporting wheels for said elements, a continuous rocking axle connectinsaid wheels, means for connecting said arvester and axle for verticallymoving said harvester, and means for connecting said thrasher and axlefor vertically moving said thrasher when said axle is rocked.

25. In combination, a main unit compris ing a thrasher provided with arock member, an axle normally extending laterally from said main unitoperatively connected to said rock member and foldingly connected tosaid main unit, a harvester unit mounted on one side of said axle, andmeans connected to the rock member for balancing said axle againsttorsional movement due to the offset weight of the harvester.

26. In combination, a thrasher unit which includes a member mountedthereon to rock on a horizontal axis extending cross-wise of the line ofdraft, an axle extendin laterally from said thrasher unit and 01 nglyconnected thereto, a harvester unit mounted on one side of said axle,means for transmitting torsional movement of said axle to said rockmember, and counterbalancing means associated with said rock member forbalancing said axle against torsional movement due to the offset weightof the harvester.

27. In combination, a main thrasher unit which includes thrashingmechanism, a member mounted on said unit to rock on a horizontal axisextending crosswise of the line of draft, an axle extending laterallyfrom said main unit and hingedly connected to said rock member wherebysaid axle may oscillate in a vertical plane and also may fold alongsidethe thrasher unit, a harvester unit mounted on one side of said axle,and counterbalancing means operating upon the rock member for balancingsaid axle against torsional movement due to the offset weight of theharvester.

28. In combination, a main thrasher unit which includes thrashingmechanism, a member mounted on said unit to rock on a horizontal axisextending, crosswise of the line of draft, an axle extending laterallyfrom said main unit and foldingly connected to said rock member, aharvester unit mounted on one side of said axle, manual means for raisinor lowering said harvester unit and inci entally rocking said axle, andcounterbalancing means operating upon the rock member for balancing saidaxle against torsional movement due to the offset weight of theharvester.

29. In combination, a. main thrasher unit which includes thrashingmechanism, and a harvester unit which includes a grain wheel therefor,aharvester and a supporting member for the latter, said harvester unitbeing hingedly connected to the thrasher unit so as to fold and also soas to allow said grain wheel to follow ground irregularities, the saidmember supporting the harvester in offset relation and being mounted forrocking movement on a horizontal axis to ad'ust the height of cut, thearrangement including counterbalancing means on the thrasher unit andconnected to said member for resisting rotation of the latter due to theoffset weight of the harvester and effective throughout the range ofsaid adjustment. I

30. In a combined harvester and thrasher, the combination of a thrasherunit provided with a rock member, an arm normally extending laterallyfrom said thrasher unit and foldingly connected thereto and hinged so asto permit relative oscillation in a vertical lane, a harvester mountedon one side of said arm and means connecting the arm and the; rockmember whereby force applied to said rock member serves to counteralancesaid arm against torsional movement due to the offset weight of theharvester.

31. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher, a harvesterarranged in lateral relation thereto, driving means flexibly connectingsaid elements, a grain wheel for the harvester, an axle journaled insaid rain wheel supporting and connected to sai 'harvester to rock'therewith and pivotall con.- nected to said thrasher to permit the grainwheel to follow ground irreguarities and to be swun to folded positionalongside the thras er, the harvester being offset on one side of saidaxle, and means tending to rock said axle to counterbalance the weightof the harvester.

32. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher, a harvesterarranged in lateral relation thereto, driving means flexibly connectingsaidelements, an axle supporting 1 and connected to said harvester torock therewith and pivotally connected to said thrasher to permit theharvester to rise and fall and .to be swung to folded position alongsidethe thrasher, the harvester being positioned on one side of the axle,and means tending to rock said axle to counterbalance the weight of theharvester, and located on the thrasher side of the axle pivot.

33. In a combined harvester-thrasher the combination of a thrashersupport, a-harvester support, a harvester carried by said harvestersupport in offset relation thereto, an arm connected to said harvestersupport and provided with means for counterbalancing the offset weightof the harvester, an axially-vertical hinge means connecting saidharvester support with the thrasher support and said arm whereby saidharvester support may be folded relative to said thrasher support andsaid arm.

34. In a machine of the class described, a thrasher, a supportoscillatably, foldingly, and rotatably connected to said thrasher, armssecured to said support and movable therewith, a harvester connected tosaid arms and adapted to move up or down upon the rotation of saidsupport, a grain wheel in which said support is rotatably carried, andmeans connecting said thrasher and harvest or for raising and loweringthe latter.

35. In a combined harvester-thrasher the combination of a two-wheeledthrasher support, a harvester support, a grain wheel for carrying theouter end of said harvester support, a harvester carried by saidharvester support in ofi'set relation thereto, an arm connected to saidharvester support and provided with means for counter-balancing theoffset weight of the harvester, and axially vertical hinge -meansconnecting said harvester support with the thrasher support and said armwhereby said harvester support may be folded relative to said thrashersupport and said arm, said harvester support being oscillatablyconnected to said thrasher support to permit said ground wheel to followground irregularit1es.

36. In a combined harvester and thrasher, the combination of a wheeledthrasher support, aharvester supporting arm extendin laterally from saidthrasher support an hinged thereto to permit folding of said armalongside the thrasher support, a harvester carried by said arm andadapted to be raised and lowered to vary the height of cut, andcounter-balancing means for the harvester located on the support wherebythe unobstructed folding of said arm is permitted. I

37. In a combined harvester and thrasher, the combination of a wheeledthrasher support, a harvester supporting arm extending laterally fromsaid thrasher support and hinged thereto to ermit folding of said armalongside the t lirasher support, a barvester carried by said arm, andadapted to be raised and lowered to vary the height of cut, a grainwheel on the outer end of said arm, the arm being so connected to saidsupport as to permit the grain wheel to follow the groundirregularities, and counterbalancing means for the harvester located onthe support whereby the unobstructed folding of said arm is permitted.

in testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WALLACE F. MACGREGOR;

